Voting Station

Janez Drnovsek

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World Leader

The Resume

    (May 17, 1950-February 23, 2008)
    Born in Celje, Slovenia
    President of Yugoslavia (1989-90)
    Prime minister (1992-2002) and president (2002-07) of Slovenia
    Last name pronounced 'der-NOW-shek'

Why he might be annoying:

    As prime minister, he was largely responsible for Slovenia being admitted to the European Union; as president, he became an outspoken critic of the EU.
    After being told that his renal cancer had spread to his lungs (2001), he abandoned conventional medicine and declared that he cured himself through natural remedies, a vegan diet and positive thinking.
    He would wear a cloak of leaves to express his oneness with nature.
    He would disappear for weeks at a time and fail to show up for government functions.
    He launched a DIY attempt to end the conflict in Darfur that resulted in his personal envoy getting arrested in Sudan for crossing the border without a visa, with EU intervention needed to secure the man's release (2006).
    The Slovenian government cut the presidential budget in order to restrain his activities.
    He discovered that he had a 19-year-old love child (2005).
    He blogged, signing his posts 'Janez D.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He negotiated the withdrawal of the Yugoslav army from Slovenian territory (1989).
    He did not make a fuss when George W. Bush introduced him as the leader of Slovakia.
    He was unapologetic about his Darfur peace mission, noting that conventional diplomacy had not fared better than his freelance efforts.
    Despite government embarrassment at his activities, he was popular with the Slovenian people.
    His book outlining his personal philosophy, 'Thoughts on Life and Awareness,' was second only to 'The Da Vinci Code' on the Slovenian best seller lists.
    His public reunion with his out-of-wedlock daughter only added to his popularity.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 78.26% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying